Weekly Weather



Wrapped in joy



“Beth will be the Christmas Angel this year.” Every girl in our little country school was dreaming of being the angel and with this announcement my heart sunk into the basement. The teacher did not bestow this honor because I had any special talents but because, she said, “Beth’s father is a pastor and so of course she has to […]

Donovan Ray Brazell



Donovan Ray Brazell, 55, of Grand Marais died Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the Cook County North Shore Hospital after a courageous battle with colon cancer. He was born on September 18, 1959 to Robert and Nancy (Bystrom) Brazell in Grand Marais and graduated from Cook County High School in 1979. Donnie was the yard foreman at Sawtooth Lumber for […]

Jay A. Kieft



Jay A. Kieft, 55, of Lutsen died Monday, Dec. 1, 2014 at the Cook County North Shore Hospital after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. He was born May 25, 1959 to Jake and Gert Kieft in Sioux Center, Iowa where he grew up and graduated from high school in 1977. Jay attended Central College in Pella, Iowa and then […]

Historical Reflections



December activities at Care Center




The spirit of giving is always in season at North Shore Care Center thanks to the commitment of over 70 volunteers this past year. The residents count their blessings for family, friends, employees, and community members who give so much. As the holiday season begins, the giving continues with donations for the Resident Council Holiday Sale and Secret Santa gifts. […]

Down Memory Lane



10 Years AgoDec. 3, 2004 In light of new revelations from the state Department of Transportation concerning more delays on highway improvement projects in Cook County, the commissioners voted to shuffle their list of recommended priorities. The changes include moving the Onion River section from the second place to the top and dropping the section of highway through Lutsen from […]

School board holds annual meeting



At the November 13 meeting, with School District 166’s excess levy expiring in the fall of 2015, Superintendent Beth Schwarz presented a financial forecast based on the fiscal year 2014 audit. Schwarz reported that based on projections, the school district will have a fund balance of $37,875 for 2015. This, said Schwarz, “is obviously very concerning.” “Our budget is headed […]

Freemans in Washington with paddle petition



While most Americans were busy gobbling turkey and watching parades or football games on Thanksgiving Day, Dave and Amy Freeman were in their canoe. “We paddled all day, until 10:30 p.m., taking advantage of good weather,” Dave Freeman reported from Washington D.C. on December 1. The 2014 National Geographic Adventurers of the Year were completing a four-month canoe trip that […]

County going to court over hockey rink



County Attorney Molly Hicken has been working for several months to reach an agreement with the company that poured the concrete slab at the Cook County Community Center. In October and November 2014, the county board held closed sessions to have attorney-client privilege discussion of potential litigation against contractor K. Johnson Concrete because of flaws in the ice rink. At […]